ATLANTA- UPS recently inducted 928 drivers into its elite "Circle of Honor" - the largest for any single year in the company's history, according to UPS.

With these latest additions, this brings the number of active UPS drivers who have steered clear of accidents for 25 years or more to 4,793. Collectively, the 4,793 drivers have logged more than 5 billion miles and more than 136,091 years of safe driving through their careers.

Of the Circle of Honor members, 231 have been accident-free for 35 or more years, with 17 of those having driven more than 40 years without an accident. UPS' top safe driver in 2009 is Kentucky District tractor-trailer driver Ron "Big Dog" Sowder, who has achieved 48 years and 4 million miles of driving without an accident.

This year, 11 female drivers have joined the ranks of those with more than 30 years of safe driving. This group is led by Orlando tractor-trailer driver Ginny Odom, who is credited with 35 years and more than 3 million miles without an accident.

UPS' 102,000 drivers worldwide are among the safest on the roads, logging more than 3.3 billion miles per year with less than one accident per million miles driven.

All UPS drivers are taught safe driving methods beginning on the first day of classroom training, including the company's comprehensive safety course, "Space and Visibility." The training continues throughout their careers.

A complete list by state of new Circle of Honor inductees can be found at www.upsprmedia.com/circleofhonor.zip.